Artwork – The Lady of Voerendaal
Jeustraat, Voerendaal
Anyone visiting Voerendaal station cannot miss her. You see her from afar: the impressive female head, a work of art known as the Lady of Voerendaal. She was discovered during the construction of a lime kiln in 1917 and later transformed into a monumental artwork. But who was this lady, and what role did she play in Roman times? That remains a mystery, making her a truly enigmatic figure.
While in the past she was thought to represent a goddess, we now believe she was more likely a woman for whom a funerary monument was erected near Villa Voerendaal and close to the Via Belgica. She chose to be portrayed in the style of Sabina, the wife of Emperor Hadrian, wearing exactly the same hairstyle.
The openwork silhouette of the Lady of Voerendaal measures 3.30 metres in height, about 5 metres in width, and is made of Nivelstener limestone. Because of her “imperial” hairstyle, she is dated somewhere between 125 and 150 AD. But who she really was remains an unsolved mystery.
Discover
- Cycle the Roman cycling route and pass by the Lady of Voerendaal.
- Take a seat on the bench behind the statue and enjoy the view of Voerendaal station.
- Let your imagination run free and decide for yourself what role the Lady of Voerendaal may have played in Roman times.